briggs



S. F. BRIGGS.

REGULATOR. APPLICATIION men mun. ms.

1 vvvvvv m.

7 J W a a 0 Patented D60. 13, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

IIVVE/VTfi-R. i 2 krrwrzvck I I l m I I l E S. F. BRIGGS.

assumes. APPLICATION HLED APR- IBIS.

1,399,741. Patented Dec. 13,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- UNITED STATES PATENT orrics STEPHEN F. BRIGGS, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 BRIGGS 8t STRATTON COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN. A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

REGULATOR.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, STEPHEN F. Barnes, a citizen of the United States, and resident" ,of Milwaukee, in the county o f M1lwaukee storage battery charging circuit supplied by a generator operating under widely varying speeds, as in the case of a generator driven by the gas engine of an automobile.

The invention relates to that class of regulators for this purpose known as vibrating regulators, in which an electromagnet influenced by shunt and series windings operates a voltage regulating armature and a vibrating generator output regulating armature, the voltage regulating armature to maintain the storage battery charging circuit only during'the development'of a predetermined voltage or greater voltage by the generator. and the generator output regulating armature to maintain an approximately constant current flow through the charging circuit.

The object of the present invention is to perfect details of construction of such vibrating regulators and to provide for varying the rate of charge of the storage battery.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the construction to render it inexpensive to manufacture.

With the above and other objects in View the invention consists in the regulator as herein claimed and all equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate the same parts in the different views.

Figure 1 is a central sectional view of a regulator constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof with parts in section as seen from the voltagei'egulator side;

Fig. 3 is a similar view as seen from the current regulator side;

Fig. 4 is a top view thereof;

Fig. 5 is a bottom view;

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 13, 1921,

Application filed April 17, 1916. Serial No. 91,550.

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the engagement of the charge-boosting springwith the armature of the current regulator;

Fig.1? is a detail =view showing the ar rangeme nt by which the {contact brackets may be adjusted.

-' Fig.8 is a detail-view of the stop plate for the voltageregulator armature; and,

Fig. 9 18 8, diagram of the wiring connections.

In these drawings 10 indicates a disk-line base of insulating material fitting within a cup-shaped sheet metal cover 11 which is suitably secured thereto and provided with means for attachment to a support. A shouldered magnet core 13, with top andbottom pole pieces'j14and 15 respectively riveted thereon agaiiis't its opposite shoulders, passes through "an opening in'the base 10, with a cupshaped jspa'cer 16 surrounding it andspacing the pole piece 15' from the base,

while the'end of' the core is turned over as a rivet upon a washer 17 and has a screw threaded therein forming a binding post 18. Upon the magnet core 13 between the pole pieces '14 and 15 are magnet windings 19 and 20, the former being of fine wire forming a shunt coil, and the latter of coarse wire forming a series coil. Between the magnet windings and the pole pieces 14 and 15 are disks or washers 21 of insulating material, and through an opening in'one of them the shunt coil 19 has one end grounded on the pole piece 15. Other openings in the insulating washers 21 near their edges are for receiving lugs 22 which are struck up from the pole pieces 14 and 15 to prevent parts from turning, the pole piece 15 being anchored to the base 10 by having a lug 23 on one of its downwardly bent ends entering a pocket or recess formed in said base 10. Riveted to one of the downwardly bent ends of pole piece 15 is a thin sheet metal piece to which an iron plate 25 is riveted, the piece 24 being sufiiciently flexible and of suitable material, such as spring brass, to constitute a hinge for the plate 25, which extending from near one pole piece past the end of the other pole piece constitutes the armature for the voltage regulator. A spring 26 which is riveted to the downwardl bent end of the pole piece 15, together with the hinge plate 24, has its end engaged by a swing .br; Lucan l hook-shaped tongue: 27 cut from'thc armatnre 25. The tongue 27 is 'sog licnt' fis-izongugz the vnrf of the Spring and hoid die same all! of its natnmi position, whereby a spring action is given to the armature tending to hold it, away from the end of p'bie piece 15,

and the degree of this spring action r qny be varied by slightly bcndinv the tongue more or loss which may ran-Ely he done by the aid of pliezs. To limit the movement of the armature 25 anmy f romthu pole piece 14 :m .H'i'l'ifi'iii'l stop 28 is secured to the poie piece 1'}; by means of a screw 29, said grumtuz-e stop consisting of a-mefiai= plate, as shown in Fig. 8, with notches on opposite aids to form a contracted neck portion conmeeting a. head encl to a body end. The head end of the plate is passed through a T-shaped opening 30 in m-matuxe 25,-nnd' he neck portion of: the armntugo st p iiesqvlthm the contracted pprbion ,of the opening"; 39 that (he Ire-ad portion will engage the armaiure tqjimit its o twaxd moi gsment. Anangular .contacfit br k t-3h is: wmr diin lace y mgans 6f ,thmscreur 29, before referred to. withsui table ins zlationbetweqn ibancl adjacent; pa'r ts than? wilflhowqyexg; permit oithe adjustment 10f the CODIIQQ bmcket toward or awn froznthe armatureflfi, iC ntacts 32 on the contact.bruckatfiinn-ihearmature .25 respgctigeiy agar ieiigagecl when the nrmntuyc is attractcdby thmmagnst. One end of the iseriesi W'mdingIQO ighqqngqcted with the Contact bracket 31,,whjle $h-othar end- Chereo'f co mccts with a. binding-post. 33 n p-the base 10. The-end pf-fthushunt winding 19 which is not grounded on the pole picge 15 is cqnnccbed with .a binding pns t Sign the base 10. I H y i A gepgrn tqr'output regulating igrmaturefi undmzts sprin flfi manxounteglp1r$h other .downwqrdly ant and oipqiupiecgJ-flin thc .same manner ns with .nzmatgmfliz and sPring 26 and have the same relation-go each 0hcr,;the hookifiigerving Lu ggijazstjhe sPFlhgpressixre withfavlnch the 'armnture is held away Iron; 15h; endfv po1e jece 14. The upper and ofthe anmatm e 35, owever, i s sumcwhnt different fromthe .ofihcr mum.- tm'u inusnmch asit-is recessed atjps obi-new,- so as to fit between pz ojcqting hams 33 at tim corners ofpoiu pieqe 'L-L formed by cutting away the central povtion'of-thennd thereof. This enables 'the armature 35!) projec iing pogtions of the min pigcc for the purpose bf-diminishing the attractive force (if thy; magnet COWflJ'gLthBfiIld of tlm nommmitnfihe armature toivm'dthc poll: puzcu At this bud of him pole pie/m 14: there is :1 dumping SQE'LW 39 sccm-ing in place an ncljusmbie, insulated Contact, bracket; 40 gnu'i .in jiilrlliflfi bunt m'mntuqc stop 41. Tim wnini imuzizut -i0 is beuhduwmmrcily .-1 .zF-. i;:. swim? :zmmhur 41f. 'Xi;? }J=.ifitiI\ with minim: mmnbni' 10::Lin:.iiruizituzuiifl,

:35 in one position of them-dd. 'fififpasses through-the rod is. and-bears on g ipgst :u itsup er one} and bm'ingiagainsfi 1minuel; fac'omfthe current regulator .zmmritugzz A cotter pm one end of the bnshing 'while a lmn'gliclmcmher 51 ofspring-metul-is secured toith outer and of-thorod a'n'd bears on the ot-liivendmf the bushing thus confining-the rod in place though permitthkg into be timmd bymen'ns ofitim handle for pp mgrtlm prnssixm of the'gpxjpg 9 a ainsfrt BKcurx miH QW axmntures xe mqmment'sgofdho imxlle 51 arelfmitgdwby, suitabin sin is 52 and a: himdla ishald imita go'sitions y mqa' as u n p j ion 1 v i hcmmm Jengfigmg sui able notchggor rgcessgs 54d; the base 10.

l'mggnneetiag up thd legulawr .ofi iiiis inm fi maili g 995M233 lssnunne cfed by :1 aim- 55. with onefiarmiin l mfiasorage bat- 10}, L110 anmaizure wnof this gnemtor,

a Wil'filgfi with, bindingnimst hlfi-ihzBin' above a pzedcberminmi minimiimu dflihisipcrmnnently closeigirouit throughtho'shunt fi'eid win(ling.0f;-he/;mngnt ma'y be-traced on thej diagram as-f olloivs: From -thaigencrntor armature 58=-th1;ough-wire-5Sl to binding post 18 am magncbcmfc ,-throug-hshunt!magnet winding 19 and wire 16 to -binding p'o'st 34:, and'back .tso generator larnmture 58 by way of wire 60.- The clo'sing of-tha swifah contacts 32 compictes a charging cirriuit thrungb' the storage baHery -With the magnet winding 20 in series therewith. This circuit is from gcnemmr armature 8 Lhronghvwire to binding post l8 omnugnot (lfilOtb liiugh u-ismwgnab ednbya wire 60 .with tlie cmi-ihf sihmshlmtifielduwizmiuig' 1 won pole piece 1 armature 25. closed contacts 32, series magnet winding 20, binding post 33, wire storage battery 56 and wire 57 to generator armature. l t will thus be seen that on starting the engine or other driving means for the enerator the storage battery 56 is not inclu ed in circuit therewith until the generator has acquired sufficient speed to bring its voltage to that required for charging the storage battery, at which point the strength of the magnet, due to the excitation of the shunt magnet winding 19 is sufficient to overcome the spring action on armature 25, causing said armature to swing and close the contacts 32. The closing of the switch contacts 32 not only connects the storage hattery with the generator so as to receive the charge therefrom, but the series magnet winding 20 included in the charging circuit assists the shunt magnet winding in holding the contacts 32 closed. The charging circuit is therefore controlled by a compound wound jmagnet, the'shunt winding 19 of which is influenced by the variations in voltage'of the charging circuit, while the series winding- 20 is influenced by the variations in current flow through the charging circuit jThe' spring action of the current regulator armature 35 is sufficient-to resist the attractive effort of the electromagnet during 'the normal conditions of thebharging cir'cuitbut is overcome by the increased pull of the magnet when the predetermined normal current strength in the "charging circuit is exceeded. Thus when the speed of the generator is excessive and-its voltagefgoes above the predetermined maxi-mum fofwhich the regulator has been adjusted the increase in the'flow of current I through 'theseries winding 20 causes the electromagnet to attract its armature 35 so as'to break the connect-ion'inade by the engaged contacts42, 43 and 44! This has the e'flectof introducing a' regulating resistance in the"shunt field circuit of the generator, thus "reducing the'strength of the generator field'and consequentlydiminishing the outputof"the"generator armature. This effect is instantaneous so that the opening of the current regulator contacts to reduce the How of current inthe charging circuit is immediatelyfollowed' by their closing again be cause of the resulting weakening of the electromagnet, and consequently the action of the current regulating armature is a rapid vibration tending to maintain the current strength of the charging circuit constant un der variations in speed of the generator. The generator shunt field circuit, when the current regulating contacts are closed. is'

from generator armature 58 through wire 59. binding post 18 on the magnet core. pole piece 1 armature 351, closed contacts 43, 44 and 42, wire 46, binding post 47, wire 62 and shunt field winding 61 back to generator armature. The opening of the current regu- 'regulating armature 25 will be released b the electromagnet to open the battery charging circuit whenever the speed of the generator is reduced to a point where its voltage is less than the voltage of the storage battery, for at such times the storage battery discharges back through the enerator and through the respective windings of the electromagnet and in a direction to oppose one winding to the other instead of having one supplement the other as before, thus neutralizing their effect and causing the switch contacts 32 to immediately open. This back discharge circuit may be traced from storage battery 56 through wire' 55, binding post -33,'series magnet winding 20, closed contacts 32, armature 25 to pole piece 15 where it divides, one branch passing through binding post-18, wire 59, generator armature 58 and wire 57 back to battery, and the other branch passing through shunt magnet winding 19, bindingpost 34, wire 60 and wire 57 back to battery. While the direction of the current fiow through the shunt mag-- n'et winding19is the same asbefore,"the direction of current flow through the series magnet winding 20 is reversed.

The action of spring 26 on the voltage regulator armature 25 may be readily varied to adjust the regulator so that it will be sensitive to the predetermined minimum volt age. Such adjustment i's-made by bending the hook-27 forming the springstn'p. 'B

bending this hook more or less by means of suitable pliers the sprin action on the-armature 25 may be increase or diminished with a corresponding change inthe voltage to which the voltage regulator will respond. Likewise suitable adjustment maj be made in the normal action oftlie spring 36 of'the current regulator to change the charging rate. At certain seasons the storage battery of automobiles is subjected to greater-use than at other seasons and it is desirable to increase the rate of charge during the active seasons. In-order that this'may be done without necessitating the opening of-the casing and without disturbing-the spring adjustment the auxiliary spring'49 is prorided. which on being turned by the handle 51 to a position Where it bears againstthe current regulating armature 35 gives addi tional pressure tending to holdfthe contacts closed, and consequently requires a greater 126 current flow through the charging circuit including the series winding 20 before the armature will respond to separate the contacts and introduce the regulating resistance in the shunt-field circuit of the generator. 130

[he auxiliary spring 49 thus constitutes a charge booster for temporary use, and, when it is thrown out of action by returning the handle 51 to its original position, the normal charging rate is reestablished as the careful adjustment of the spring 36 has not been altered during its use.

The entire device is simple in its construction, making it inexpensive to manufacture though it is strong and durable and eflicient in its operation.

\Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

i. In a vibratingregulator for controlling the charging of storage batteries from variable speed generators, a vibrating armature tor gencratonoutput regulation, means for giving a normal spring action to said armature, and an auxiliary charge boosting spring for varying the spring action-of said armature without-affecting the adjustment of the normal spring action thereof.

2. In a vibrating regulator for charging storage batteries from variable speed generators,a vibrating armature for generator output regulation, means for giving anormal springaction tosaid armature and an auxiliary charge boostingspring for vary ing the spring action of, the armature and adaptedto be brought into andout ofoperative. relation therewith without a-fiectingmhe adjustment of the normal=spring action thereof. I

8. In a vibrating regulator for controlling the charging of storage batteries,from;variable speed generators, an electromagnet having a vibrating armature for; generator output regulation, adjustableinieans for giving spring action tothe armature, and auxiliary charge boosting spring means movable into and out of operativerelation with the arn1a ture for varying .the springaction thereof without affecting the adjustment of the normal springactionthereof. ,1 r1

4. In a vibratingiregulator-forcontrolling the charging of storage batteries from variable speed: generators, an electromagnet having a vibrating armature -for generator output regulation, means for giving a normal spring action to the armature, a'casing inclosin the electromagnet and its armature, and charge boostingspring means operated from the exterior of the casing for giving supplemental spring action to the armature without affecting the adjustment of the normal spring action thereof.

5. In a vibrating regulator for controlling the charging of storage batteries from variable speed generators, an electromagnet having a vibrating armature for generator out put regulation, means for giving a normal spring action to the armature, a casing inclosing the electromagnet and its armature, and change boosting spring'means operated from the exterior of the casing for giving of the. armature. V

supplemental spring action to the armature without affecting the adjustment of the normal spring action thereof.

6. In a regulator, an insulating base, an electromagnet mounted thereon, a vibrating armature therefor for generator output regulation, a spring for said armature, a rod rotatably mounted in the base, a spring carried thereby and adapted to bear on the armature, and a handle on the rod provided with a detent for-holding it in its different positions.

7. In a regulator, an electromagnet having a pole piece with an armature pivotally mounted thereon, a spring member secured to the pole piece, and a bendable projection on the armature engaging the spring for causing the spring to give variable spring action tothe armature Without disturbing its other adjustments.

8. In a regulator, an electromagnet having a pole piece with its end bent at an angle thereto, a strip offlexible metal and a spring riveted-,to'the bent end of the poleipieoe, and an armature secured to-the strip of flexible metaLandhaving a tongue out therefrom and ,bent up vto form an adjustable hook engaging, the spring.

, 9 n a regulator, ;an, e lectromagnet,, a suitably mounted; armature therefor havingan opening and an armature-stopsecured ,to one of the pole pieces. of'i-the'magnet and having:.& wcontr'acted neck portion; passing ithroughnthe opening of the armature, the

width-ofthe armature-stop beyond the contracted rneck portionbein -;greater than the Width ofthe opening-to limit the movement 10. ln .aregulator, an electromagnet, a suitably mounted armature therefor having av T-shap'edopening, and an armature stop secured to oneglof. the pole pieces of the magnet and having a T-shaped end passing through the opening of the armature, the head .of\the;armature-stop {being located in the narrovver portion of; the opening of l the armature to engagethe armature and limit its movements. in I 11. In a regulator, an electromagnet having a core with. pole pieces securedthereto, a spacer surrounding the core and engaging one of the =pole'pieces, said pole piece having anend bent at an angle ,thereto, a base of insulating material fitting on the end of= the core of the magnet against the spacer and having an opening to receive the bent end of the pole piece, and means for securing the magnet core to thebase.

12. In a regulator, an electromagnet hav ing a core with pole pieces secured thereto, a spacer surrounding the magnet core and engaging one of the pole pieces, said pole piece having an end bent at an angle thereto,

a base of insulating material fitting on the magnet core against the spacer and having an opening to receive the bent end of the pole piece, the end of the magnet core being upset to rivet it to the base, and a screw threaded in the end of the magnet core forming a binding post therewith.

13. In a regulator, an electromagnet having a pole piece, a strip of flexible metal and a spring secured to the pole piece, and an armature secured to the strip of flexible metal, and having a tongue forming an adjustable hook. engaging the spring for adjusting its spring action without disturbing its position.

14. In a regulator, an electromagnet having a pole piece, a strip of flexible metal and a spring secured to the pole piece, and an armature secured to the strip of flexible metal, and having a tongue out therefrom and bent up to forman adjustable hook engaging the spring for adjusting its spring action Without changing its other adjustments.

15. In a regulator, an electroma et having a core with pole pieces secured thereto, a spacer surrounding the core and engaging one of the pole pieces, said pole piece having an and bent at an angle thereto, a base of insulating material fitting against the spacer and having an opening to receive the bent end of the pole piece, and means for securing the magnet core to the base.

16. In a regulator, an electromagnet having a core with a pole piece secured thereto, a spacer surrounding the core and engaging the pole piece, a pro ection on the pole piece, a base of insulating material fitting against the spacer and having an opening to receive the projection, and means for securing the ma et core to the base.

1? In a regulator, an electromagnet having a pole piece, a strip of flexible metal and a spring secured to the pole piece, and an armature secured to the strip of flexible metal and having a tongue out therefrom and bent to form an adjustable projection engaging the spring for adjusting the spring action Without changing the ad ustment of the armature.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

STEPHEN F. BRIGGS.

Witnesses:

KATHERINE HOLT, R. S. C. CALDWELL. 

